RTD staff recommends GBBH North Metro Rail proposal

The Denver, Colo., Regional Transportation District (RTD) staff has recommended its board of directors to move forward with a proposal from Graham, Balfour Beatty, Hamon Constructors (GBBH) to design and build the North Metro Rail Line to 124th Avenue. The proposal commits to completing construction of the line to 124th by January 2018.

GBBH has proposed building out the complete North Metro Line to 162nd, but RTD staff is recommending that the first phase of the project be built to 124th with the funding that is currently available. Building to 124th as a first phase serves the majority of projected ridership for the corridor and, as additional funds become available, RTD can then exercise an option with the contractor and issue a notice to proceed to complete the line to 162nd.

"We had four sound proposals, but after thorough evaluation, the GBBH proposal provides the best value and allows us to make great strides toward completing another FasTracks project," said RTD General Manager Phil Washington.

The GBBH team includes Stantec Consulting Services and Parsons Brinckerhoff on design, Zann and Associates as the DBE lead, Communications Connections Consulting heading up public information, Transit Safety & Security Solutions leading system safety and Systems Consulting, LLC, taking the lead on quality assurance, among others.

Highlights of the GBBH proposal and the proposals submitted by the other three competing teams of Bechtel/Herzog, North Metro Transit Solutions and URS were shared with the RTD Board and the public at a FasTracks Monitoring Committee meeting.

The Board is expected to take formal action on a contract award at the regular RTD Board meeting on November 26. Completion of the North Metro Rail Line from Denver Union Station to 124th Avenue, through Commerce City, Northglenn and Thornton, will provide an essential link to job and entertainment centers for the northern suburbs.

GBBH's cost proposal to build the line to 124th is $343 million, which RTD will finance by issuing Certificates of Participation. Building North Metro to 124th as a first phase makes it affordable for RTD to utilize its own financing opportunities to fund the project.

In February, GBBH approached RTD with an unsolicited proposal. After reviewing the initial proposal, RTD staff determined it was consistent with the agency's Unsolicited Proposals Policy and worthy of moving forward to a competitive procurement process.

Design and construction on the North Metro Line are expected to begin in 2014.